The berries of the saw palmetto plant were used as a food and medicine by Native Americans and it has a long history of use for treating urinary problems in men. Today it is best known as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlargement of the prostate that causes symptoms like difficulty urinating and frequent nighttime urination. While researchers are not sure exactly how it works, they theorize it affects hormone levels and blocks the growth of prostate cells. Consult with your doctor for guidance on the appropriate dosage for your condition.
Properly Standardized Supplements
Like pharmaceutical drugs, herbal supplements must have a certain amount of their active compounds to produce any therapeutic benefit. As for saw palmetto, you should look for supplements that contain 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols -- the primary active agents of saw palmetto.
Dosage Guidelines
Generally the recommended dose is 160 mg twice a day, though the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center reports that taking one single dose of 320 mg might offer similar effectiveness. Doses up to 800 mg daily have been used. Your doctor can provide guidance on the most effective dose for you. If using a liquid extract, you need 5 to 6 mL daily, though this form of the supplement has not been studied, so whether or not it would work the same as the other form has not been established.
Medication Interactions
Saw palmetto might interact with blood-thinning medications like warfarin, so consult your doctor before use if you use any of these types of medicines. Using it at the same time as drugs used to treat prostate problems could prove problematic as well.
Side Effects
Reported side effects have been mild, such as slight headache and general stomach upset. Research on this herb has not made any mention of potential toxicology, and the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center says it is "essentially nontoxic."
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